Receptacle-filling machine



Dec. 14. 19246.

J'. R. LITTY RECEPTACLE FlLLlNG MACHINE Filed sept. 21, a snmatsmm 1 mVENroR lsv lz. Lid] :It: I.. C

Dec. 14 1926.

J. R. LITTY RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Fiied sept, 21.

1.925 a sheetssheet 2 .Vf'lllllvllllllbllxIIILVIIA lllllllll INVENTOR Jam R. Lay' 4 ABY Dec. 14 1926.

.1.y R. LITTY RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Fled Sept. 21, 1925 8 Smets-Sheet :s

INVEMTOR JMJ?. may

Dec. 14 1926.

J. R. LITTY RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE 1925 8 Sheets-$heet 4 INVENTOR Filed sept. 21,

WITNESSES:

Dec. 14 1926. 1,610,691

J. R. Ll'rTY RECEITACLE FILLING MACHINE med sept. 21. 1925 shunts-sheet. 5

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l 1 MW J. R. LITTY RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Dec. 14 1926.

` 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 F`1ed Sept. 21. 1925 INVENroR H15 noni/EY Dec. 14 1926.

J. R. LITTY RECEPTACLE FILLING MACHINE Filed spt. 21.

11925 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Wmv yE55 "YVENTOR v /Ofyw QMRLJQ l f/[' ATTORNEY Patented. Dec. 14, 19,26.

4uurrlzn STATES PTE'-` OFFICE.

JOHN R. LITTY, OF PHILDIEILPHIA,l FENNSYLVANIA.

RECEPTACLE-FILLING MACHINE.

Application filed September My invention relates to machines for lilling receptacles Withliquid, plastic or granular material. y

The usual method of filling such. receptacles is by hand. This method is slow and makes the packing cost-ly. Various methods have been produced to reduce this costly step, but have proved unsatisfactory because they did not fill the receptacle with quantities of predetermined Weight and rwere unsanitary.

The objects of my invention are to provide a machine which will accurately lill receptacles with weighed quantities.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I att-ain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which* Figure l is a. plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 a front View of the machine shown in Figure l,

Figure 3 a rear view of the machine shown in Figure l,

Figure t an enlarged fragmentary section on line tof Figure 2,

Figure 5 an enlarged fragmentary section on line 5--5 of Figure 2,

Figure G a skeleton perspective view of elen'ients connected in accordance with my inventiom Figure i' a view similar to Figure G illush trating the parts in another position,

l=`igure tl an enlarged section on line tlm-8 of Figure 2S,

Figure S an enlarged section ou lino .9-3 of Figline l,

Figure i() an enlarged fragmentary section on line lOwlO of Figure 2, and

Figure lll a diagram of the electrical connections in. the machine shown in Figure l.

The machine has two scales, a main scale and a checking scale. The main scale is balanced u'l'ien the receptacle thereon has reccix'fed the correc or approximately correct weight of ma rial from a main valve, and thereby effects7 thru electrical and mechanical means, the closing' of the valve. The ('.lieclriug scale is more sensitive than the main scale and. is balancld by a more accurate amoifint of i'naterial than would balance the main scale, and eifects the closing` of the checking valve, thru electrical and mechanical means, when the Weight in the receptacle has been brought up to the correct 21, 1925. serial No. 57.519.

Weight. rlhe receptacles are moved oli' and on the s ales by a conveyor which moves intermittently and is automatically started by mechanism actuated by the clos'ig movement of both the main and checkingvalves7 and stopped by the same mechanism which automatically sets it i to elfect the stopping. l have shown the main and checking valves as being' of the type suitable for use With plastic or liquid material but other valves may be :mbstituted which are suitable for use with granular materialI Referring to the dra'inings, l indicates a frame having a receptacle guideway 9 l a conveyor passing in the guideivay and over sets of sprockets et. Gne set of sprockets is mounted on a drive sliaft 5 rotatable in the frame and hai/img` keyed thereto a ratchet wheel C. A paivl 7, adapted to engage and move the ratchet Wheel intermittently, is pivo'ted on an n"m 8 sivingably mounted on the en d Shar.. i. rThis arm is connected by a link 9 With a crank l() on a clutch shaft ll. .fr clutch i2 is momitcd on shaft il and consists of rotatably mountet driving' member 13 in the form of a ratchet Wheel, notched to engage a spring-held dog l5 on a driven member 1G fixed to shaft ll. The dog is moved out of notches it by an L-shaped extension 17 which is adapted to engage and be actuated by hoolis, to be described later, to swing the dog out of the notches. The conveyor chain has bars i9 which move receptacles, in guidenfay 2, on and olil the platforms of a main scale 2l) and a checking scale 2l.

The main scale nous s of a yoke-shaped balance beam having` a platform 23 at one end and a balance Weight 2li at the other end. The platform is adjustably mounted on the beam by a stem 25. A contacting linger 2G, carried by the lower end of stem is adapted to engage a contact 27 When the beam is balanced by a receptacle having the correct, or nearly correct, weight of material therein. Tilhen the circuit is conipleted, by linger QG and contact 27, mechanism is actuated to close the valve from which the material is being` discharged.

The checking scale consists of a balance beam 2S having a platform 29 mounted at one end and a balance Weight 30 at the other end. lbe platform carries sectional receptacle guides 3i to avoid the friction that would exist between the receptacle and lll@ a stationary guide when the receptacle moved downward with the scale platform. Balance weight carries an abutment 32 which engages a pivoted contacting arm 33 adapted to engage a contact 34. This arm is swung against contact 34 by a delicate spring 35 whose tension may be varied by an arm 36 so that its effect on the accuracy of the checking scale is negligible. Finger 33 and contact 34 complete a circuit through electrical means which cause the valve, discharging material into a receptacle on the check weight scale, to close.

The receptacles receive their material from a main valve 37 and a checking valve 38. Valve 37 and the mechanism connected therewith fills the receptacle with the maj or weight of material while valve 38 and the more delicate mechanism connected therewith discharges a slight amount of material to bring up the weight to they correct weight. The nozzle of valve 37 is of practically the same area as the passage in the valve, while the nozzle of valve 38 has a fine pin-hole passage. so that the inertia effect of the discharged material, on the checking scale, will be negligible. These valves are opened by a system of links and levers connected with a common cam. The linkage for each valve being similar but one will be described.

It consists of a valve lever 39 connected by a link 40 with a lever 41 on a vertical shaft 42 which has another leve-r 43, .connected by a slotted link 44 with a vertically swingable lever 45 on a shaft 46. This shaft actuates the link and levers of each system and has a slotted lever 47 connected with a vertically movable cam follower 48 which co-acts with a cam 49 to receive vertical movement. Cam 49 is mounted on a shaft 50 having a clutch 51, similar to clutch'l2, mounted thereon. This clutch consists of a driving member 52 in the form of a sprocket, notched at 54 to engage a spring-held dog 55 pivotally mounted on a driven member56 keyed to shaft 50. The dog is normally in the notches and is swung out of the notches by an extension 57 adapted to engage and be moved by a hook 58 pivoted on the frame at 59 and having its upper end connected to a rod 60 slidable in a guide 6l. Movement of a handle 62 will slide rod 60 against the action of a spring 63 to actuate hook 58 for connecting clutch 5l and thereby effecting the opening of both valves. When the main scale and checking scale are balanced by the receptacles on their platforms which have received material from the main and the checking valves, they will complete a circuit between the finger 26 and contact 27 on the main scale and finger 33 and contact 34 on the checking scale, to actuate mechanisms for closing the valves. These valve closing mechanisms being similar but one will be described.

A solenoid 64 is connected with alatch 65 which is adapted to engage an arm 66 on vertical shaft 42. An arm 67 at the lower end of the shaft is connected with a spring 68 on the frame. .l/Vhen arm 66 is caughtand held by latch the valve is fully open and spring 68 is under tension. 1When solenoid 64 actuates the latch 65 to release arm 66, spring 68 will return the parts to their former position and close the valve. ,After the receptacles on the scales receive their proper weight of material they effect the closing of the valves and cause the conveyor chain to move the receptacles 0E the scales by mechanism now to be described.

The niechai *n ccnnecfeu with the main valve consists of a lever 69 connected with a bar 7() havii'ig atits free end alv shoulder Ti and a cam face which is adapted to engage the lower edge 73 of a guide T4. Shoulder 7l is adapted to engage, move and release an extension of a .lever 75 against the action of a spring 4' 6. This lever is fined to ay shaft 'TT which carries a fixed hook T8. A closing movement of main valve 3T and the parts connected therewith will swing hook 78. `The mechanism for the check weight valve consists of a lever 79 connected by a link 8O with a lever 8l pivoted on the frame and connected by a link 82 with a hook 83 pivoted on the shaft 77. A closing movement of checking valve 38 and its associated parts will swing hook 83. Hooks 78 and 83 are adapted to be swung into and out of the path of the moving extension l? of clutch l2 to connect and disconnect the same and thereby actuate conveyor chain to move filled receptacles from the scales and other receptacleswonto the scales.

To render the circuit between each scale and its solenoid inoperative except when the valves are open, I provide a pair of contacts 85 in the circuit which are adapted to he connected by a copper bar 86 fixed by an in sulating block 8? to vertical shaft 42. Bar 86 completes a circuit between contacts 85 only when the valve is fully open. l

The operation of the machine is as fol lows assuming that the motor is ruiming and ,there are receptacles, previously lfilled b v the main valve, in the receptacle guideway. as shown in dot-andedash lines at 88 in Figure l, to be checked for their weight by the checking scale; a. receptacle is placed on platform 23 of the main scale to be filled by the main valve. Handle 62 is then moved against spring 63 to swing hook 58 from under extension 57 as shown in Figure 7, to the position shown in TFigure 6, to allow the spring actuated dog 55 to be swung into one of the notches 54 and connect the driving with the driven member of clutch 5l. This will rotate shaft 50 and cani 49 and cause follower 48 to operate the linkage Irl:

Ail)

is to be understood that a receptacle on the main scale and a previously filled receptacle on the checking scale receive material from these valves at the same time. lhen the weight of the material, discharged from the main valve into the receptacle on the main scale, balances the scale; it brings linger into engagement with contact 27 to complete a circuit through solenoid 64 and cause latch G to release lever 66 and allow spring (i8 to return the linkage of the main valve to its former position and thereby close the main valve. During the closing .movement ot the main valve hook 7S is moved from nader the extension 17 ol" the clutch; as shoivnfin Figure 7, by shoulder 71, bar and lever 75. This releases extension 17 and allows thY spring-actuated dog l5 to engage one ot the notches and connect the clutch. As bar 70 passes through guide 7st, its cam tace 72 slides on edge 73 and raises the bar to bring shoulder 7l above the eX- te vnon oit lever 75 to yrelease the same.

" Spring 76 being placed under tension by this movement will return lever 75 and hook 78 to their .former position as shown in Figure (5. It the checking valve is still discharging material into the receptacle on the checking scale to compensate for the low weight, clutch l2 will he again disengaged by hook S3 which is in the path oi the extension 17 in a manner similar to the disengagement caused by hook 78. Ii' the checking valve is closed before the main valve, as it usually is, hook 83 will be swung to the position shown in inll lines in Figure 7 and Will be out ci' the way of extension 17. This allows the clutch i2 Which Was Aconnected by hook 73, to continue rotating and move crank l0 the mechanism connected therewith to act ate conveyor' 3, and shift the lilled rece les otl' the scales and other receptacles on the scales. When the other receptacles have reached the scales; clutch l2 has rotate'l one revolution.' This brings the tension i7 into engagement with hook 78 which causes vthe clutch to be disconnected and the conveyor stopped. Another receptacle is then placed on the inain scale to be lilled by the main valve and the cycle of operation is repeated.

l t will be seen that with the machine above torth receptacles may be filled with quantities of material of the correct Weight.

lilhile l have described my invention as taking a particular form7 it will be understood that the various `parts may be changed vithont departing vfrom the spirit thereof; nl hence do not limit myseltA to the prec .fe construction set forth, but consider that l am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come Within the scope et the appended claims.

Having thns described my invention7 what l claim as new and desire to secure 'by liet- Patent is i. In a machine ofthe character described, valves; means for successively conveying each of a series of receptacles from one valve to another; mechanism operatively connected for opening the valves to discharge material into thereceptacles; mechanism operatively connected for closing the valves when the receptacles have received predetermined weight, and means connected With the last said mechanism for causing the conveying i'ncans to move the receptacles when all the valves are closed.

2. In a machine oi the character described. means for conveying receptacles; main mechanism ior filling a receptacle With material of less Weight than the predetermined weight; checking mechanism for discharging material into the receptacle to increase its Weight up to the predeteri'nined Weight and means connected with said main and checking mechanisn'i for causing the conveying means to move the receptacle from the main to the checking mechanism When it has received the inedeterniined Weight.

3. In a machine oiI the character described. a main scale; a checking scale; a main valve for discharging material into a receptacle lon the main scale; a checking' valve for discharging material into a receptacle on the checking scale; mechanism for opening both. ot' the valves; mechanism connected with the main scale and the main valve for closing the same when the scale is balanced by the partly filled receptacle7 mechanism connected with the checking scale and the checking valve for closing the same when the scale balanced by the `lilled receptacle thereon and means controlled by both of said valve clos-- ing mechanisms for moving the receptacles.

4.. In a machine of the character descr'hed` a main scale; a checking' scale; means ter conveying receptacles onto the scales; a main valve ior discharging material into a recep` tacle on the main se g a checking valve tor discharging material int a partly tilled re ceptacle on the checking scale; mechanism for opening' the valves; mechanisms connected with the valres and the scales for closing the valves when the scales are balanccd by the receptacles thereon, and means operatively connected with the valve clcsing mechanisms for causing the conveying means to move the receptacles from tlc main scale to the checking` scale 'when the valves are closed.

In a machine of the character drscrilawh a main scale; a checkingl scale; a main valve for discharging material into a receptacle on the main sca-le; a checking valve i'or discharging material into a partly .filled receps tacle on the checking scale; mechanisn'i tor opening the valves; mechanism connected with kthe main scale and the main valve for lll() lll) closing the same when the scale is balanced by the partly tilled receptacle; mechanism connected with the checking scale and the checking valve tor closing the same when the scale is balanced by the filled receptacle thereon7 and con feying mechanism operatively connected with the valves for moving` the receptacles from the main scale to the checking scale when the valves` are closed.

G. ln a machine ot the character described, a main scale; a checking scale; a valve for discharging material into a receptacle on the main scale; a valve tor discharging material into a. partly l'illed receptacle on the checln ing scale; driving means; a clutch operatively connected with the driving means; valve opening mechanism connecting the clutch with both valves; means t'or operatingl thc clutch to open the valves; mechanism con* nccted with the scales and the valves tor closing the valves when the scales are balanced by the receptacles thereon.

7. ln a machine of the character described, a main scale; a checking scale; a main valve 'lor discharging material into a receptacle on the main scale; a checking valve tor discharging material int-o a partly lilled receptacle on the checking scale; driving means; a clutch ope "atively connected with the driving means; a shaftoperatively connected with the clutch; mechanism connecting the cha-lt with the main valve tor opening the same; mechanism connecting the shaft with the checking valve for opening the same; mecnanism for connecting the clutch to 'open the valves and for disconnecting the clutch when the valves are opened, and mechanism connected with the scales and the valves tor closing the same when the scales are balanced by the receptacles thereon.

8. In a machine of the character described, a main scale; a checking scale; a valve tor discharging material into a receptacle on the Vmain scale; a valve for discharging material into a partly lled receptacle on the checking scale; mechanism tor opening the valve; mechanisms including .electrical means connected with the scales and the valves tor closing the same when the sca-les are balanced by the receptacles, and conveying mechanism operatively connected. with the valves for moving the receptacles 'from the main scale to the checking scale when the valves are closed.

9. ln a machine ot the character described; a main scale; a checking scale; a valve tor discharging material into a receptacle on the main scale; a valve tor discharging material into a partly lilled receptacle on the checking scale; a switch connected with each scale and adapted to be closed when the scale is balanced; a solenoid tor each switch; a latch actuated by each solenoid; mechanism tor opening the valves and adapted to co-act with the latches to hold the valves open; re-

silient means tor returning each mechanism to close its valve when released by the latch, and conveying means operatively connected with the valves tor moving the receptacles trom the main scale to the checking scale when the valves are closed.

l0. In a machine ot the character described; a main scale and a checking scale; a main valve tor discharging material. into a receptacle on the main scale; a checking valve for discharging material into a partly lilled receptacle on the checking scale, the outlet passage on the checking valve being smaller than the outlet passage on the main valve. mechanism connected with the scales and the valves tor closing the same when the scales are balanced by the receptacles and means controlled by the closing ot the said valves for moving tl e receptacles ni the main scale to the checking scale.

ll. ln a macninc ol the character described; mechanism for discharging into a receptacle material of less weight than the predetermined weight; mechanism t'or discharging material into a partly lilled recep tacle to increase its we'ght npy to the predetermined weight: conveying means tor moving the receptacle trom trie tiret mentioned mechanism to the second mentioned mechanism, and means controlled by the two dis charge mechanisms for effecting a movement ot the conveying means when the mechanisms cease to discharge material into the receptacle.

12.1n a machine oi the character described; mechanism 'lier discharging into a receptacle material of less weight than the predetermined weight; mechanism tor discharging material into a partly lilled receptacle to increase its weight np to the predetermined weight; conveying means for moving the receptacle from the iii-st men tioned mechanism to the second mentioned mechanism; a clutch operatively connected with the conveying means, and mechanism connected with both discharging mechanisms lill lll)

tor effecting the connection. ot 4the clutch to move the conveying means and a disconnecn tion ot the clutch to stop vthe conveyi means in a predetermined posi ion.

ln a machine ot the character dev scribed, mechanism tor discharging into a receptacle material ot less weight than the predetermined weight; nechanism for 1ischarging material into a partly lilled receptacle to increase its weight up tothe predetermined weight; conveying meansdfor moving the receptacle 'from the iii-st mens tioned mechanism to the second mentioned mechanism; a clutch operatively connected with the conveying means; a pair ot clutch connecting and disconnecting members; means connecting one member with the second mentioned mechanism iif'he'reby it is thrown into an inoperative position to allow connection of the clutch when said second main mechanism ceases to discharge material7 and means connecting the other member With the lirst mentioned mechanism Whereby said member Will be momentarily thrown into inoperative lposition, to allen7 connection of the clutch and then released and returned to its 'former position to etl'ect a disconnection oit the clutch.

14. In a machine for accurately filling receptacles, a series of measuring devices; means ifor conveying in succession each of a series of receptacles to each of said devices, means for measuring and discharging a een tain quantity of material to each of said receptacles at the lirst oi said (tlf-)vices7 means for successively conveying each yof said receptacles from said first device to another oi said devices, means at said other device for augmenting the quantity of material to a predetermined amount, and means operatively connected With said other device for causing said conveying means t0 advance the se` ries of receptacles only upon the cessation of operation of all the measuring devices.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN R. LITTY. 

